A teenage illegal alien who has been described by authorities as “very, very violent” was arrested on Friday afternoon after he was accused of shooting a tourist in New York City’s Times Square.
U.S. Marshals arrested 15-year-old Venezuelan illegal alien Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figueroa following a manhunt. Rivas-Figueroa was ultimately apprehended at a home on Saratoga Avenue in Yonkers, New York, where he was caught on camera crying as law enforcement took him into custody. A woman, likely a family member, was also heard sobbing in the background of the video.
NEW: 15 year-old Venezuelan illegal CRIES while female relative wails in background as he's taken into custody by NYPD for shooting a tourist in Times Square shop.
Illegal immigrant Jesus Alejandro Rivas Figueroa, 15 was being housed at the Stratford Hotel on West 70th Street… pic.twitter.com/Hl36bzMjRK
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“If you think you can threaten the lives of the very people who keep us safe, if you think you can put others at deadly risk and get away with it, then think again. We will never stop pursuing you. We will find you, and we will arrest you,” New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Edward Caban said in a statement about the arrest.
NYPD Deputy Chief of Detectives Jason Savino also spoke out about the arrest, explaining that the illegal alien was a “very, very violent” suspect who had recklessly fired a “very large” .45 caliber handgun during a robbery gone wrong.
Rivas-Figueroa allegedly attempted to rob JD Sports in Times Square with two teenage accomplices at around 7 p.m. on Thursday. They were reportedly confronted by a female security guard after they were caught stealing merchandise from the store’s second floor.
Rivas-Figueroa is then seen on surveillance footage pulling out a handgun and firing twice at the security guard. The bullets missed, striking a Brazilian tourist instead.
The incident then spilled out into the very busy streets of Times Square. According to NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell, “He turns once. He fires towards our officer. Our officer takes his gun out. He cannot return fire, there’s too many people in his way. As the suspect goes through the cut between the buildings, he’s running, he takes his gun out under his armpit, he fires again at our officer. I gotta tell you – one of those bullets hits our cop last night, this is a whole different conversation we’re having today. Our cop showed great restraint not to fire their weapon into crowded New Yorkers.”
The criminal illegal alien was able to escape officers when he ran into the subway.
Rivas-Figueroa is facing several charges, including two counts of attempted murder, and it has been confirmed that he will be charged as an adult. Authorities also noted that the illegal alien is a suspect in another armed robbery in the Bronx that occurred on January 27, as well as a “shots fired” incident in Midtown Manhattan.
It has been reported that Rivas-Figueroa illegally entered the U.S. in September and was being housed in a shelter for illegal aliens on West 70th Street.
The 37-year-old female tourist who was shot in the leg during the incident has since been released from the hospital.
